How to Have a Sustainable Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a day of indulgence — in chocolate, flowers, romance — with a partner or with yourself. It’s a holiday that invades stores, tempting you with bags of candy, cheesy cards, and expensive gifts. We want to take a moment to remember what the day is truly about: love. And that also means love for the planet.
We’ve compiled a list of tips on how to spend the holiday a little more mindfully, keeping sustainability in mind on a day that thrives on excess.
1. Gift Thoughtfully
Whether celebrating alone or with someone else, Valentine’s Day is often a way to show someone (or yourself) that you love them. For many, gifts are a part of your love language. Instead of buying every heart-shaped item you can find, you can instead give a gift that comes from the heart.
- Bake or cook. Something you make yourself already has a special touch (it’s made with love). Make yourself or your loved ones’ favorite kind of cookie, or put a new spin on a favorite meal. Plus, dining in has the added benefit of being more sustainable than eating at a restaurant or noshing on a prepackaged meal. Farmers markets are great places to source sustainable, in-season ingredients.
- Gift an adventure. You don't have to get all Survivor to make it exciting. Try something new, such as booking a barre class or trying your hand at pottery. Booking an adventure for two also gives you the opportunity to spend quality time together.
- Gift sustainably. Maybe gift-giving is your love language and you or your loved one has had their eye on something. Shop local or small businesses that have their values in the right place. If you’re here because you already love Out of the Woods, the Backpack is the perfect gender-neutral gift for everyone, while the Seagull Cooler is also our favorite to use on weekend getaways (the insulation doubles as padded protection).
2. Prepare a Special Dinner or Go on a Picnic
Try making something special and interactive — think homemade pasta or sushi. If you still want to get out of the house, enjoy your meal in the great outdoors. Not to brag, but we make some pretty great picnic essentials, which also happen to double as a perfect gift. We love our Insulated Wine & Spirits Valet to secure your bottled beverage of choice.
3. Hand-Make Your Card
Whether you’re writing a card to yourself (which we absolutely recommend) or to a loved one, make it that much extra special by crafting it yourself. Grab some paper and put your artistic skills to the test (trust us, it’s not supposed to be perfect — love isn’t!). Use recycled paper or make a collage from magazines to ensure it's eco-friendly.